Dec 12, 2007
The San Diego Union-Tribune ran a story Dec. 9 about the concerns of avocado and citrus farmers in the southernmost county about their dwindling water allocations. The story says Southern California is grappling with one of the worst water shortages in decades, and no one faces a more uncertain future than the region's estimated 3,500 to 4,000 farmers. According to the article, most of the farmers will have to reduce their water usage by 30 percent come January.
For comment, reporter Alex Roth went to UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor Gary Bender.
“I think we're going to have some people go belly-up,” Bender is quoted. Particularly in avocado farming, “the profit margin is very, very, very thin."